If you’re not satisfied with your smile when you look in a mirror, you’re not alone. Over 60% of Americans wish they could change something about their smile, with most complaining about discoloration, crooked teeth, or gaps.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways your dentist can help! Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy procedure or a total overhaul of your smile, the right cosmetic treatments can help. When you’re wondering how to get perfect teeth, here are five procedures to ask a dentist about.
1. Teeth Whitening
If you’ve ever worried about discoloration or staining on your teeth, teeth whitening can help. This simple but effective treatment can get you a glowing smile in no time at all!
When you come in for professional teeth whitening, your dentist will use either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Both of these substances have a bleaching effect on the teeth, but they’re also safe to use. Even better, they give you fast results: most patients only need a single 30-60 minute session to achieve a brighter smile, though this will depend on the amount of staining on the teeth.
If you’re looking for a great entry point into the world of cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening is a great choice. This treatment is affordable, fast, non-invasive, and comfortable. Even better, the results can last between one to three years, though you’ll need to avoid teeth-staining foods in the future.
2. Veneers
For a more in-depth cosmetic fix, try dental veneers! These are custom-made coverings that fit over your natural teeth. They’re useful for adjusting the shape, length, width, or color of one or more teeth.
Veneers are perfect for patients who feel self-conscious about chips, cracks, or other imperfections. They can even conceal gaps and uneven or misaligned teeth. The result is a beautiful smile that’s bonded to the surface of your teeth!
To create your veneers, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth and send them off to a lab. This lab will create your custom veneers, often out of porcelain or ceramic, before shipping them back to your dentist.
Once they’ve arrived, your dentist will bond the veneers to your teeth with dental cement. Often, your dentist will need to remove a small bit of your tooth enamel to make room for the veneer.
This procedure requires no downtime at all, and patients who get veneers can even eat and drink like normal right after their treatment. In addition, you don’t need to do anything special to take care of them, and they can last for a decade or longer.
Keep in mind that veneers are cosmetic fixes only. Unlike some of the other options on this list, they’re great for concealing but can’t fix any underlying issues with your teeth.
3. Dentures
Dentures can be a great option for patients who are struggling with one or more missing teeth. Your dentist can create custom dentures to replace a few missing teeth or all of them!
These replacement teeth look and act the same as your natural teeth. They sit atop a retainer that you can place in your mouth and remove whenever you want.
Your dentist will make an impression of your teeth and work with a dental laboratory to create a custom prosthetic. This ensures that the dentures are a perfect fit for your smile and comfortable to wear.
If you’re hoping for an easy and fast cosmetic fix, dentures may be right for you. Like a teeth whitening procedure, dentures are a completely non-invasive option. They’re also affordable: most insurance policies offer complete or partial coverage, though a membership plan can also help.
In addition, dentures may be ideal if your jawbone density won’t support a cosmetic procedure like implants. Anyone can get dentures, as they work regardless of how much bone is present.
However, you’ll have to invest a bit more time in their upkeep a little more than you would for other cosmetic options. Regular cleanings are a must every time you brush your teeth, and you’ll also have to remember to brush any lingering adhesive off your gums after removing the dentures.
4. Crowns and Bridges
Crowns and bridges are similar cosmetic procedures that can help cover tooth imperfections.
As the name suggests, a crown is a cap that covers the crown of a single tooth. This is perfect for covering a weak, chipped, cracked, worn, or otherwise damaged tooth. It can improve the tooth’s appearance while also protecting it from further harm or damage.
Dental bridges bridge the gap between one or more crowns. They fit over the healthy natural teeth between these crowns. There are several different types of bridges that your dentist will choose from, depending on where your crowns sit in your mouth.
Both of these cosmetic appliances are permanent options. They’re made of porcelain, allowing these prosthetics to blend in with your natural teeth.
5. Dental Implants
Last, but not least, dental implants can be a great way to restore your smile for the long term. These prosthetics replace one or more missing teeth.
Implants begin with titanium posts that your dentist will surgically place in your jawbone. These posts replace your natural tooth root and support the custom prosthetic that will be used in place of your teeth.
Because they require surgery and multiple appointments, dental implants are the most invasive option on this list.
However, they’re also a long-lasting way to enhance your smile and prevent bone loss from missing teeth. Many patients report that implants feel just like their natural teeth, as they make it easy to speak and chew without adjustment. You can also care for them in the same way you’d care for your natural teeth.
Let Us Show You How to Get Perfect Teeth
If you’re tired of feeling self-conscious about your smile, let Bourbon Family Dentistry help you get your perfect teeth!
The cosmetic dentistry procedures above allow us to restore our patients’ beautiful, symmetrical, and pleasing smiles. From simple treatments like teeth whitening to major changes like dental implants, our team has the expertise to handle it all. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.
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